04w06:2 Dogs vs. Cats Posted February 3rd, 2004 by timothy. 0 Comments Good Reads Mailing List | 2004 week 6 number 2 (dogs vs. cats) ——————————————————————— A Potpourri of Pooches | Peter Tyson http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/dogs/potpourri.html “Dogs are diverse largely because of artificial rather than natural selection, because of us rather than nature. But just how much of their variety can be laid at our feet versus Mother Nature’s remains unclear. Charles Darwin suggested that one reason dogs are so variable is that they must have arisen not just from wolves but from other canids like jackals and coyotes as well. But recent genetic studies conducted by evolutionary biologist Robert Wayne and colleagues at the University of California at Los Angeles revealed that the mitochondrial DNA of dogs and wolves is very similar, while that of jackals and coyotes is distinctly different. Astounding as it seems, all 400 or so recognized breeds today descend directly from the wolf. ” Infected rats make easy cat snacks | Matt McGrath http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/850556.stm “A parasitic infection in some rats alters their natural behaviour and makes them easy prey for cats, research shows[…] ‘None of the other parasites I’ve ever looked at have had any of these effects upon behaviour,’she said. The parasite is also widespread in human brains, but does not cause a problem unless the immune system is compromised. (Article date: 25 July 2000) Dangerrrr: cats could alter your personality | Jonathan Leake http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8122-826557,00.html “They may look like lovable pets but Britain’s estimated 9m domestic cats are being blamed by scientists for infecting up to half the population with a parasite that can alter people’s personalities […] Infected men, suggests one new study, tend to become more aggressive, scruffy, antisocial and are less attractive. Women, on the other hand, appear to exhibit the ‘sex kitten’ effect, becoming less trustworthy, more desirable, fun-loving and possibly more promiscuous.” —————————————- http://www.instantcoffee.org/tim/goodreads To remove or add yourself from this list, email tim@instantcoffee.org emailed by Timothy on Tuesday 03 February 2004 @ 2:46 PM
